Taps

The song that gives us that lump in our
throat and usually tears in our eyes.

But, do you know the story behind
the song? If not, I think you will be
interested to find out about it's humble
beginnings. Reportedly, it all began
in 1862 during the Civil War, when
Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe
was with his men near Harrison's
Landing in Virginia. The Confederate
Army was on the other side of the
narrow strip of land.

During the night, Captain Ellicombe
heard the moans of a soldier who
lay severely wounded on the field.
Not knowing if it was a Union or
Confederate soldier, the Captain
decided to risk his life and bring
the stricken man back for medical
attention. Crawling on his stomach
through the gunfire the Captain
reached the stricken soldier and began
pulling him back toward his encampment.

When the Captain finally reached his
own lines, he discovered it was actually
a Confederate soldier, but the soldier
was dead.

The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly
caught his breath and went numb
with shock. In the dim light, he saw
the face of a soldier.
It was his own son.

The boy had been studying music in
the South when the war broke out.
Without telling his father, the boy
enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken,
the father asked permission of his
superiors to give his son full military
burial despite his enemy status.

His request was only partially granted.
The Captain had asked if he could have
a group of Army band members play a
funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.
The request was turned down since the
soldier was a Confederate.

But, out of respect for the father,
they did say they could give him only
one musician. The Captain choose a bugler.
He asked the bugler to play a series of
musical notes he had found on a piece of
paper in the pocket of the dead youth's
uniform. This wish was granted.

The haunting melody, we now know as *Taps*,
used at military funerals was born.

Day is done    Gone the sun    From the lakes
From the hills    From the sky
   
All is well,    Safely rest.

God is nigh    Fading light    Dims the sight
And a star    Gems the sky,

Gleaming bright    From afar,    Drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise,    For our days,
Neath the sun,    Neath the stars,

Neath the sky,   As we go,   This we know,
God is nigh.

I too, have felt the chills while listening
to *Taps*, but I had never seen all the
words to the song until now. I didn't
even know there was more than one verse
and I didn't know the story behind the
song. I didn't know if you had either so
I thought I'd pass it along. I now have
an even deeper respect for the song
than I had before.

REMEMBER THOSE LOST AND
HARMED WHILE SERVING THEIR COUNTRY!

Author Unknown To Me

  Dede's Note: 

Since getting this page ready to post
I found out this story is a myth,
but I loved the story so am posting
it anyway. The content is good and I
am sure the author meant well.
Go here to read about the myth:
http://www.tapsbugler.com/TapsMyth.html